It was an uncharacteristic miss from the Australia international, who would have wished to mark his last appearance for Everton before departing for the Asian Cup in a manner more befitting of the Premier League's fourth highest goalscorer.

But after suffering home defeats against Blackpool and Fulham either side of Christmas, there was an almost tangible determination about Tony Pulis's organised, industrious Stoke side, a refusal even to contemplate the ignominy of a third successive league reversal at the Britannia Stadium.

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Pulis buoyed by Stoke's return to form

Since they were without the ball for much of the afternoon, Stoke's ambitions hinged on retaining their shape under frequently heavy pressure, pressing hard to disrupt Everton's midfield fluency, and making the most of their chances when they came along.

It was a game plan carried out to perfection.

The home side's best moment came midway through the first half when Etherington, latching on to a flick-on from Jones, squirmed past Phil Neville and Seamus Coleman to find Jones again with a well-flighted cross.

Perfectly positioned on the edge of the six-yard box, the big Trinidadian could hardly miss, gleefully heading home his fifth Premier League goal of the season.

How David Moyes must have longed for a similarly incisive intervention from one of his players. Instead, it was a case of new year, same old story.

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Moyes frustated by Everton's poor finishing

Everton have turned dominating matches without winning them into something of an art form this season, and that familiar shortcoming was once again on full view, albeit with the crucial difference that they were for once unable to fashion a draw.

Last beaten away from Goodison Park in late August, the Toffees had returned to Merseyside with a point six times in their eight-game unbeaten streak on the road.

Not on this occasion, however, for all that they dominated possession in the first half and narrowly shaded it in the second.

When Danny Higginbotham slid in to deny Steven Pienaar on the stroke of half-time, deflecting the South Africa international's effort on to the roof of Asmir Begovic's net, you began to sense it would not be Everton's day.

Sure enough, with 20 minutes left, the visitors conceded a second goal in bizarre fashion.

A free-kick from the halfway line found Jones in the area, but the striker could not control the ball and after it bounced off him Jagielka, enduring a nightmare return from injury, inadvertently poked it into his own net.

Stoke had started the afternoon without a win against Everton since their return to the top tier of English football in 2008, but with fortune smiling on their determination, and the front pairing of Kenwyne Jones and the returning Ricardo Fuller causing the visiting defence all manner of problems, there was to be no way back for Everton.

Compared to Jones and Fuller, Louis Saha was once again an ineffectual presence up front for Everton.

The Frenchman will feel justifiably aggrieved at being denied a penalty in the opening seconds, when he was clipped by Ryan Shawcross just inside the Stoke area, but otherwise struggled to make a telling impact. As the ensuing 90 minutes would confirm, it was to be the story of Everton's afternoon.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis

"It was a great result for us, the first time we've beaten Everton since we won promotion to the Premier League.

"Kenwyne Jones scored a very good goal and, when he plays like he played today, he's almost unplayable.

"If we can bring one or two [players] in during the transfer window, we will.

"It's a decent time for us to bring people in, because it lifts everybody, but they have to be the right players."

Everton manager David Moyes

"We didn't deserve to lose by two goals, but Stoke played well and took their chances.

"We had a lot of opportunities and a lot of the ball, and we know our build-up play is good.

"But we couldn't convert the good play into goals, and we gave away a terrible second goal.

"If we can work in the loan market, we'll do what we can [in the transfer window].

12:52 Tim Cahill gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Wilkinson. The ball is crossed by Jermaine Pennant, Headed
effort from deep inside the penalty area by Ricardo Fuller goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

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